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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Toddler Falls Out of Second Story Window: The True Story

Yesterday was Olivia's first day of preschool.

It was cool when the kids woke up so I lifted the blinds and opened the windows wide. Not just to save money on AC, but because I hate the feeling that we as a human race are constantly stuffed up in artificial heat or cool and never connect with nature and the fresh air.

Later that day, I put my kids down for a nap. I didn't close her window because (can I be honest here?) honestly, it didn't even cross my mind. If it had, of course I would have. Of couse!

Olivia came down stairs twice, and I sent her back up.

Finally hoping that she was asleep, I settled into watch Project Runway. At about 2:40 (sometime I know thanks to the time stamp on the phone call I made moments later) I heard a crash and a scream. I realize immediately that she had fallen through her screen. I don't know why, but I ran to her bedroom. Maybe I was hoping she was still hanging on? No she wasn't.

I ran down stairs and opened the front door. Olivia was standing up and we ran together and I held her close. I pulled her away to survey the damage and realized she was bleeding from her chin. I set her down on the step and ran to get a towel for her deep gash.

Once that was in place I started searching for my phone. Who to call??? When ever I was unsure of anything about my child's health, her pediatrician's office had always been there for me. So that's who I called. We don't have a lot of money, and I've had to pay for an ambulance ride before. There were clearly no broken bones and from the way she had stood up and walked to me, I knew there wasn't any OBVIOUS injuries, other than her chin. I knew her Dr could stitch up her chin and check for other injuries. If they told me to call 911 instead, I would have.

I called and they told me to come right in. So we drove as fast as legally possible. They saw us very quickly and cleaned her wound. The doctor checked for injuries and gave her a few tests with her hand eye coordination. She was passing them all.

She had stopped crying and was acting totally normal until they put this thing on, and she was NOT HAPPY!

Just to be safe we wanted some xrays and a CT scan. She was stable, but obviously needed to be checked out further. The hospital nearest me? Doesn't take my insurance. So we decide on Primary Children's. Probably as far from my house as you can get in the Salt Lake Valley. I'll drive her over and meet Adam there.

Just to be safe, they want her in an ambulance.

This is less than HALF of the paramedics that showed up to take Olivia.

Just because of rush hour, they want her in a helicopter.

Three police cars, two ambulances, one fire truck and one helicopter later, Olivia is safely off to the ER. Axel and I are to drive SLOWLY to the hospital. Adam is already there. She was crying pretty hard when she left on the helicopter. Do you know why? The neck brace was bugging her and she didn't want to lay flat.

A series of xrays, a CT scan and six stitches and Olivia is completely good to go. We get home and Adam sleeps in her room just to be sure.

Loving the attention. Singing everyone her favorite songs.

Naked because they cut all her clothes off! But having a good time painting while we wait for a CT scan.

We're so blessed and so lucky and so thrilled that she's okay. I just can't even let myself think "What if" because that is a dangerous game. It's debilitating. My father-in-law told me not to look back, and I was glad because I had already decided not to.

It was too hard to ignore the negative comments on all the facebook news reports. But honestly? Reading negative blog comments has prepared me for this. I know exactly the kind of person that posts them, so it really (not kidding!) hasn't bothered me. I just wanted to set the record straight.

19 comments:

I mostly never watch the news and have been so crazy busy lately I've barely been checking twitter. I didn't know anything until late last night. The thing about freak accidents is they are just that freak accidents. I'm so glad she's ok!

I was offline for a few days, so I missed this. But I just wanted to offer my support. Sophia few down a flight of stairs at a party when she was eighteen months and was unconscious for about thirty seconds. I seriously took years of my life. We had the whole deal too, ride to the hospital in an ambulance and an a lovely interview with DFS while I sobbed hysterically. Thank God all she had was a tiny scratch on her forehead. My point is, yes, accidents happen to the best of us. I hope you both recover soon.

Long time reader, first time commenter! This same thing happened to my cousin - however her son was a bit older and was wrestling with his brother and fell out the window. And it nearly happened to my mom when my brother was your little girl's age - she caught him right before he fell. These things happen!! I am so sorry this hit the news where you live - she is fine so I am not really sure why they felt the need to cover it? Dumb media!